And the duo - who now live in Sheffield and practise at the academy in the city - say there is a friendly competitiveness between them.

"It is always good to have someone who pushes you harder so that you play better," said Mehta, who won gold at this year's World Games in Colombia.

Aditya Mehta factfile

Born: 31 October 1985, Maharashtra, India

Titles:

2012 Asian snooker champion

Medals:

Gold: 2013 World Games (singles), 2009 Asian Indoor Games (team)

Silver: 2010 Asian Games (team)

Bronze: 2006 Asian Games (team), 2010 Asian Games (singles)

"When we are both performing to a good level, it acts as a motivation and as long as we can both keep doing that, keep challenging each other for results we will both move forward.

"That is what I lacked in my first two years on the professional tour but having him here now means we have a good rivalry."

Advani, a record eight-time world billiards champion, added: "We have a healthy rivalry but our main purpose is to take our own game to the next level."

Seven players - Ali Carter, Dave Gilbert, Tony Drago, Anthony Hamilton, Kyren Wilson, Yu De Lu and Liam Highfield - have withdrawn from the Indian Open for various reasons, but organisers say it has nothing to do with the cyclone that has swept through the Bay of Bengal.